Banning the Immoral Biotech Research

Matthew Ellis was elected for President of the United States. During his early presidency, he introduced a ban on immoral biotech research. This had the consequence of making it difficult for Aldrich Killian to develop Extremis, angering the scientist.

Return of Captain America

President Ellis congratulated Captain America for his return in modern times, with an informal "Welcome back Cap" quote. The quote was made notable enough to be displayed at Captain America's exhibit which featured display information of the Howling Commandos, including a detailed one for Bucky Barnes.[2]

Getting Reelected

"You elected me on a single platform: I will protect this country at all costs."

In response to the Mandarin's terrorist threats against the United States, Ellis ordered Colonel James Rhodes to be rebranded in the colors of the American flag and to be renamed as the Iron Patriot. He gave a televised speech announcing that Rhodes would personally take charge of hunting down and killing the Mandarin. His efforts were joked about in the world's media; however, he remained determined to track down the terrorist as more attacks continued across America, destroying American landmarks like the TCL Chinese Theatre, killing dozens of civilians.[1]

Mandarin Threats

"There's just one lesson left, President Ellis, so run away, hide, kiss your children goodbye because nothing, not your army, not your red, white and blue attack dog, can save you. I'll see you soon.""Tell Rhodes, find this lunatic right now."

In one video from the Mandarin, he threatened to kill accountant Thomas Richards from the Roxxon Oil Corporation if President Ellis failed to call him within 30 seconds. Ellis watched the video from Air Force One, and demanded to know how the Mandarin's phone number ended up on his phone. Although he was advised against it, Ellis decided to obey the Mandarin's order.

Although the President complied with the request and called the phone, the Mandarin ignored the call and seemingly shot Richards in the head on live television. While Ellis was horrified at the sudden act of murder, the Mandarin warned the President that no matter what he did, he would never be safe and nobody would be able to save him before hanging up. Ellis ordered James Rhodes to locate the Mandarin's hideout as soon as possible.[1]

"What do you want from me?""Uh...nothing, sir. I just needed a reason to kill you that would play well on TV. You see, I've moved on. I've found myself a new political patron, and at this time tomorrow, he'll have your job."

While boarding Air Force One with his security team, Ellis witnessed the arrival of the Iron Patriot, who had arrived to act as the President's bodyguard. Upon seeing one of his most trusted men, Ellis saluted the Patriot and commented on how he felt safer already.

However, as the plane took flight, the President was attacked by the Iron Patriot, who trapped many key staff members in one of the rooms while killing the security team. Ellis was quickly discovered and captured by Eric Savin, who revealed he had hijacked the Iron Patriot Armor. Ellis bravely ordered Savin to execute him if that's what he intended, but Savin revealed that he worked for the Mandarin and this was not how the Mandarin worked.

Ellis was kept alive and imprisoned inside the Iron Patriot Armor by Savin. The suit was put into automatic flight and forcibly flew Ellis to a decommissioned Roxxon oil-tanker, the Norco. Once he arrived the suit opened up and Ellis fell to the feet on Aldrich Killian, who was currently speaking to the captured and tortured Pepper Potts. Killian mockingly saluted the President and welcomed him onboard the ship while Potts looked on in horror.

Killian revealed to Ellis that he had brought him to this specific place because due to the President's work, when the Norco spilled a million gallons of crude off Pensacola, none of the people responsible were bought to justice. When Ellis asked what Killian wanted from him, Killian explained that Vice President Rodriguez was working with him in an attempt to become the next president, and Killian needed to find a way to kill Ellis that would play well on television.[1]

Aldrich Killian's team of Extremis Soldiers forced Ellis back into the Iron Patriot Armor and strung him up between the ships, ready to be killed by having the oil poured over him. While he hung helplessly, Killian's men recorded him from multiple cameras and prepared to broadcast his death across the world and blame the assassination on the Ten Rings' leader the Mandarin while Rodriguez took power.

Tony Stark and Colonel James Rhodes traced Ellis and Killian to the impounded Roxxon oil freighter, the Norco. Despite attempting to go unseen, the pair who soon spotted by Killian's Soldiers and a huge battle broke out between Killian's Extremis Soldiers and Stark's Iron Legion, who arrived to assist in the battle while controlled by J.A.R.V.I.S. as Rhodes ran to rescue President Ellis while Stark confronted Killian and saved Potts.

Rhodes was able to find Ellis quickly and attempted to free the President. However he was first forced to battle three Extremis soldiers who attempted to kill him. Outwitting the soldiers, Rhodes managed to defeat them before freeing the President and taking back his Iron Patriot suit, returning Ellis to the White House while Stark successfully defeated the remaining soldiers and Killian, rescuing Pepper Potts at the same time.[1]

The New Protection Agency

"By executive order, I have created a special task force to neutralize these alien threats on our soil. The Advanced Threat Containment Unit, or ATCU, will be given full license to act with whatever authority is necessary."

Following the Battle of Sokovia and the rise of Inhumans, President Ellis authorized the formation of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit, the replacement for S.H.I.E.L.D., headed by Rosalind Price. A.T.C.U. was instructed to contain potential threats caused by people with superpowers. As the incidents became more and more public with Joey Gutierrez losing control of his powers in the middle of a city, President Ellis had a press conference announcing his decision to the world.[6] Weeks later, the President began to pressure Price for positive results.[7] Shortly after, Ellis and his advisors organized a meeting with other world leaders at NORAD, a U.S. Armed Forces facility in Colorado, to discuss the future of enhanced people.[8]

Meeting Phil Coulson

"Rosalind said you called them Inhumans. Heads of state are calling, not sure what's happening, Watchdogs agencies hurling accusations, FOX News won't shut up! I don't need to tell you how delicate the situation is, but we have to do something.""With all due respect, Mr. President, we are doing something."

Two months after the assassination of Rosalind Price at the hands of the HYDRA operative Grant Ward, President Ellis met with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s current director Phil Coulson in Price's apartment to discuss their next course of action. Even though he couldn't openly reauthorize S.H.I.E.L.D., Ellis trusted Price's judgement and decided to semi-legalize the outlawed agency to serve as the black ops unit against the advanced threats due to their superior knowledge.

At the same time, even though the Advanced Threat Containment Unit would publicly remain the Government's only task force to battle HYDRA and deal with the Inhumans, the agency's new director, although they had not yet been appointed, would receive orders directly from Coulson. When Coulson asked him to publicly condemn the HYDRA leader Gideon Malick for his participation in Price's murder, Ellis replied that there was not enough evidence against Malick, and he was so powerful that even the US President could not take him down. However, working from the shadows, Coulson was given free range to do just that.

President Ellis later contacted Director Coulson and Melinda May at their base at the Playground to inform them that he had named Brigadier General Glenn Talbot as the new head of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit. Although Coulson noted that Talbot would likely be unhappy with the move as the pair had previously been enemies during the HYDRA Uprising and they had never gotten along in the past, however Ellis insisted that it was the right move as Talbot was a highly respected soldier and due to his time with S.H.I.E.L.D. he had experience with such threats.[9]

International Incident

"Thesetwo are obviously working for either your government directly or indirectly, as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.""You know very well, Prime Minister, there is no S.H.I.E.L.D. It was dismantled.""Mr. President, do you think we are all naive? S.H.I.E.L.D. is alive and well and working with your government to get ahead of us."

Interview with WHiH

"Isn't it essential that our heroes be able to maintain their independence?""Well, my appreciation for their efforts shouldn't be misconstrued as a blank check. The Avengers need to collaborate with governments around the globe."

President Ellis gave Christine Everhart and her co-anchor Will Adams of WHiH News an exclusive interview, citing his position on whether the Avengers and other super-powered beings needed to be monitored in their activities. While assuring that he was completely sensitive to the fear and concern created by the more recent incidents involving the Avengers he recognized the heroism of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and their fellow heroes in the face of the attacks.

However, he clarified that, while he appreciated the Avengers' efforts, he did recognize a need for them to collaborate with governments worldwide, pointing out that his administration was exploring ways to create an official relationship with the heroes. Citing newly appointed Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross' experience with super-powered individuals and the incidents involving them as well as his exceptional service to his country which spanned decades, President Ellis voiced his confidence that Ross would be able to work in conjunction with both his allies abroad and the Avengers.[13]

New S.H.I.E.L.D. Director

"I'm here because the President sent me. The Sokovia Accords are the law of the land now and he's concerned you might have some undocumented "assets" working for you.""And why would he think that?""Cause he's not a moron."

Following the Avengers Civil War, President Ellis sent General Talbot to speak with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Director Phil Coulson about registering all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "undocumented enhanced assets" as required by the newly established Sokovia Accords.[15] Ellis was later informed by Talbot about the exact location of the Playground base which eventually led to S.H.I.E.L.D. accepting the Sokovia Accords and becoming legal again.[16] Coulson announced to the President his lack of desire to be the face of the organization, since he was believed to be dead. Coulson wished the new director would be a powered person the public could trust, such as Steve Rogers, but as Rogers became a renegade during the Avengers Civil War, they needed someone else.[17] The President assigned Talbot to start Project Patriot, through which Jeffrey Mace, who became a hero when the public misinterpreted his actions during the Bombing of the Vienna International Centre, was given the superpowers, and was appointed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new Director.[18]

Blackout Attacks

"I need a win, Phil, with a capital "W". Been on the phone with the President. He says if we don't have answers soon, he's gonna do something..."

When several cities around the world, two of them in the United States, suffered a wide blackout, seemingly as a result of a terrorist act done by the "Inhuman Resistance", the President called S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Director Jeffrey Mace and asked him for explanation.

As the blackout spread to seven cities, the President said that he would send the Army troops into the blackout zones to take out the Inhumans by any means necessary. Mace convinced the President to give him one more hour to solve everything because Agent Phil Coulson was already working on that case in Miami. Coulson's team's efforts were successful as they restored the electricity and discovered that the real culprits were the Watchdogs. Later, the President asked Mace to explain to the public what happened. Mace used that opportunity to publicly reveal the existence of S.H.I.E.L.D. to world.[19]

An Urgent Call

"Mr. President. We don't know who survived, but I've got our top agents searching for the Quinjet. Agent Burrows has the package, but we don't know if he was onboard. Yes, sir. Let's hope for all our sakes that Director Mace got it."

Having learned that Director Jeffrey Mace's Quinjet had crashed, the President called Glenn Talbot and asked him if Mace had survived. Talbot answered that they don't know who survived but they were looking for the Quinjet. The President asked about the package with the Patriot Serum, so Talbot said that Agent Burrows had it, but it was unknown if he was also on the Quinjet. Talbot finished the call by hoping Mace had still the package.[18]